On those occasions when I take trash to the disposal site, I don’t find people sitting around sipping coffee. The ugly mounds of refuse, the smells of rotting garbage, and blowing debris do not create an inviting place for gathering. The dump is where we take cast-offs and then leave, quickly. In contrast, there are homes and shops that are purposely made to be inviting places, peaceful oases in the world. When you step into our home, our desire is that you find it ordered and presentable; inviting you in. It’s always been that way, even when we shared it with four active kids and their friends! We intentionally work at making our little house a home, a place we and others enjoy, a gathering in kind of place.
Which place does your life resemble more: the garbage dump or an inviting home?
Is it your desire to be the kind of person that invites others to enjoy your company and, even more importantly, to feel the kiss of God’s Presence when you pass by? That happens when we purposefully prepare ourselves to be a habitation of the Holy Spirit. When He is ‘at home’ in us, there a quality to our life that others, even those who are not Believers, will sense. An inviting life need not be full of worldly accomplishments, nor is a resume chock full of degrees or recognition necessary. The most common person can, with the help of the Spirit and some willingness to learn discipline, can have a beautiful and orderly heart that is a home to the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Where He is present, others will see a winsome beauty.
Here’s a word from the Word. These verse are excerpted from 2 Corinthians 3, a chapter that compares the ugliness of mere religiosity and the beauty of the Spirit-filled life. May they challenge each of us to seek to reflect His beauty through hearts and minds that are made beautiful through the saving, healing work of Jesus Christ; ordered in the way of holiness.
"We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NLT)
"Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?" (2 Corinthians 3:8, NLT)
"For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NLT)
_____________
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me;
All His wonderful passion and purity.
O my Savior divine, all my being refine,
‘Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!
-Albert Orbson
Public Domain
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Staring at the dark, knowing He is there
I know God is active and present! I don't always KNOW what God is doing! We like to believe we are wise and well-prepared for life’s developments. God smiles at our naiveté. When circumstances spin outside of our plan, sometimes the Tempter tries to tell us that He is not there, or that He has forgotten us. Yet, He's a patient Father that keeps working out His purposes – sometimes with our cooperation, sometimes in spite of us. I think it’s fine with the Lord if we ask, "Why?” We might even cry out, “What purpose did that serve?" The dangerous place to go is into faithless rebellion, refusing to walk with Him in total trust.
In the enthusiasm of youth and with more dream than caution, Bev and I moved far from home. We felt that the Lord was going to let us do a great work in our new place. So, we moved 2000 miles; with little money, no safety net, or employment. Each month brought a new trial. Local Christians were less than welcoming. Our baby boy developed critical pneumonia and spent 5 long days in the hospital. The denomination that credentialed me balked at transferring my ministerial license to another District because, due to my inexperience, I had failed to observe proper protocol. To support my little family I worked in construction from sun-up to dark.
One year later we were serving in the same position we had left. To all appearances, we made a meaningless detour in life. I now know that God sent us to on that mission, not at all for the purposes I thought. He was teaching me about His faithfulness and grace. That year was one of the most transformational times of my entire life to this point. Are you struggling through a situation that seems meaningless? Trust Him. If you’ve made a mistake, He can turn it around. If He’s got a vision far different from your dream, He asks only that you trust Him and obey Him today.
In Genesis, there is a wonderful account of a man beloved of God who stared into the dark, yet trusted the Lord. God allowed Joseph to travel from favored son into a place in slavery. The household where he served as manager became a place where he was falsely accused of sexual harassment. That to his imprisonment! Observers might have concluded that Joseph was rejected by the Lord, all his dreams stone-cold dead! But God, … was at work! Each `detour' was actually a turn in the road that led to the throne! Years later, when he was the Prince of Egypt, he wept as he told his brothers that God had used all the events, even their treachery, to ultimately accomplish His will. He said "God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt." (Genesis 45:7-8, NLT)
Does this all mean that we should become fatalists, floating down the stream of life, just bouncing off all the rocks while we shout, "hallelujah!"? No, we pursue the will of God. Choices must be made that are shaped by a God-honoring obedience. Even then, in spite of our best of intentions—there will be side trips and detours that leave us wondering, “what happened?”
Here's a word from the Word to take with you today.
"My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you …
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:3-8, NIV)
_________________
O love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow,
May richer fuller be.
O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O cross that lifted up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee.
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red,
Life that shall endless be.
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Matheson, George / Peace, Albert Lister
© Public Domain
In the enthusiasm of youth and with more dream than caution, Bev and I moved far from home. We felt that the Lord was going to let us do a great work in our new place. So, we moved 2000 miles; with little money, no safety net, or employment. Each month brought a new trial. Local Christians were less than welcoming. Our baby boy developed critical pneumonia and spent 5 long days in the hospital. The denomination that credentialed me balked at transferring my ministerial license to another District because, due to my inexperience, I had failed to observe proper protocol. To support my little family I worked in construction from sun-up to dark.
One year later we were serving in the same position we had left. To all appearances, we made a meaningless detour in life. I now know that God sent us to on that mission, not at all for the purposes I thought. He was teaching me about His faithfulness and grace. That year was one of the most transformational times of my entire life to this point. Are you struggling through a situation that seems meaningless? Trust Him. If you’ve made a mistake, He can turn it around. If He’s got a vision far different from your dream, He asks only that you trust Him and obey Him today.
In Genesis, there is a wonderful account of a man beloved of God who stared into the dark, yet trusted the Lord. God allowed Joseph to travel from favored son into a place in slavery. The household where he served as manager became a place where he was falsely accused of sexual harassment. That to his imprisonment! Observers might have concluded that Joseph was rejected by the Lord, all his dreams stone-cold dead! But God, … was at work! Each `detour' was actually a turn in the road that led to the throne! Years later, when he was the Prince of Egypt, he wept as he told his brothers that God had used all the events, even their treachery, to ultimately accomplish His will. He said "God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt." (Genesis 45:7-8, NLT)
Does this all mean that we should become fatalists, floating down the stream of life, just bouncing off all the rocks while we shout, "hallelujah!"? No, we pursue the will of God. Choices must be made that are shaped by a God-honoring obedience. Even then, in spite of our best of intentions—there will be side trips and detours that leave us wondering, “what happened?”
Here's a word from the Word to take with you today.
"My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you …
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:3-8, NIV)
_________________
O love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow,
May richer fuller be.
O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O cross that lifted up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee.
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red,
Life that shall endless be.
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Matheson, George / Peace, Albert Lister
© Public Domain
Monday, December 06, 2010
Baby Becomes Lord!
Is the Second Coming reason for hope or fear? For much of my Christian experience, the focus of most prophecy preaching, at least to my ears, was fear. It seemed to be a well-worn scare tactic designed to keep Christians from wandering into sin, from becoming too ‘worldly.’ This generation has been treated to the same basic story through the “Left Behind” novels. Are they right? Do we have reason to fear? Yes and no!
Jesus Christ will return. It will be the realization of the “hopes and fears of all the years.” The Bible says, "Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the earth will weep because of him. Yes! Amen! "I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One." (Revelation 1:7-8, NLT) “The earth shall weep because of Him.” What is a proclamation of hope to those who are expecting His return will be a declaration of ultimate judgment for those who have ignored His gracious offer of life. John tells us that “every eye will see Him.” His arrival as the conquering Christ, “riding on a white horse’ in the imagery of the Revelation, captures the attention of the whole world. He will confront those who do evil, defeat those who bring suffering and oppression, will overthrow the old order and establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.
The Christmas story argues against the humanist view that we exist only to try to ensure the survival of our DNA into the next generation. We are not wrong to reason that since He came once to save us from our sins, He will come again to receive us into His Kingdom! This is wonderful news that is, indeed, a Blessed Hope. In your prayers and meditation today, think on this: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32, NLT) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34, NLT)
The Incarnation and the Revelation are both part of one Story; Baby and the Revealed Lord of John's Revelation are all in the plan of the Father. Let Advent take on new meaning - not only of remembering a wonderful birth, but of hope of the King's coming again. Before His Throne where will you stand- among the blessed or with those sent away? Receive Him today, with faith that is responsive.
Kneel before the Manger to thank Him for becoming a Man;
then look up to the Cross and embrace the offer of redemption; and
then look higher to the Heavens and say, “Come, Lord Jesus. Let your Kingdom come!”
___________
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above;
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O, morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth;
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv'n;
So God imparts to human hearts,
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin;
Where meek souls will
Receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O, holy child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell;
O, come to us abide with us,
Our Lord, Emmanuel.
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Brooks, Phillips / Redner, Lewis H.
© Public Domain
Jesus Christ will return. It will be the realization of the “hopes and fears of all the years.” The Bible says, "Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the earth will weep because of him. Yes! Amen! "I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One." (Revelation 1:7-8, NLT) “The earth shall weep because of Him.” What is a proclamation of hope to those who are expecting His return will be a declaration of ultimate judgment for those who have ignored His gracious offer of life. John tells us that “every eye will see Him.” His arrival as the conquering Christ, “riding on a white horse’ in the imagery of the Revelation, captures the attention of the whole world. He will confront those who do evil, defeat those who bring suffering and oppression, will overthrow the old order and establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.
The Christmas story argues against the humanist view that we exist only to try to ensure the survival of our DNA into the next generation. We are not wrong to reason that since He came once to save us from our sins, He will come again to receive us into His Kingdom! This is wonderful news that is, indeed, a Blessed Hope. In your prayers and meditation today, think on this: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32, NLT) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34, NLT)
The Incarnation and the Revelation are both part of one Story; Baby and the Revealed Lord of John's Revelation are all in the plan of the Father. Let Advent take on new meaning - not only of remembering a wonderful birth, but of hope of the King's coming again. Before His Throne where will you stand- among the blessed or with those sent away? Receive Him today, with faith that is responsive.
Kneel before the Manger to thank Him for becoming a Man;
then look up to the Cross and embrace the offer of redemption; and
then look higher to the Heavens and say, “Come, Lord Jesus. Let your Kingdom come!”
___________
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above;
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O, morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth;
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv'n;
So God imparts to human hearts,
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin;
Where meek souls will
Receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O, holy child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell;
O, come to us abide with us,
Our Lord, Emmanuel.
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Brooks, Phillips / Redner, Lewis H.
© Public Domain
Friday, December 03, 2010
Religion is the leading cause of hatred and death
The American Atheists are spreading their word. Well, they are trying anyway. Outside of the Lincoln Tunnel that stretches under the Hudson River, from New Jersey to New York City, next to one of the most heavily traveled roads in the United States, they posted a billboard about the mythology of Christmas with the invitation to “Celebrate Reason.” When asked why the group spent the money to advertise their highly unpopular view, one atheist said it was to help people escape the bondage created by religion which is the leading cause of hatred and death. In fairness, I will concede that some do kill in the name of God. Christianity has some big blots on her record when it comes to seeking peace.
Those who own a religion may be angry and hate, but those who know the true message of Christ will be people of reconciliation. The Bible says "I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him." (1 John 2:8-11, NIV)
Is loving peace an easy assignment? Not at all. We love our own way. We are quickly offended by those who resist us or who challenge our views. We naturally rise to protect our advantages. If we think that we own Christ, all of the above will happen. We will argue and strike back at those that diminish Him. But, if Christ owns us, we will ‘turn the other cheek’ knowing that He will care for us as a shepherd cares for the flock. In Advent, we remember that He came to save us, that He bought us to be His people. Oh that we would learn to rest securely in that fact!
Has the Light of Jesus shined into your life? Are you owned by Him, held close, safely secure and at rest?
Then, you can live as He taught. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, NIV)
Disciple, if you find yourself fighting, in constant conflict, take a deeper look at what is disquieting your mind and heart. Settle the inner turmoil by inviting the Prince of Peace to speak to the storms that are raging inside of you. When you are at peace, you will live in peace. I know whereof I speak! When I take control of my life from my Lord, when I begin to let the stresses of life (and there is stress!) convince me that I need to stamp out every fire and direct every scene, conflict within myself and with others starts to escalate. When I take those things to Him in prayer, waiting patiently for His will to be done, I find “peace that passes human comprehension” that comes from His love.
Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder it and may you find a renewed love for the One who came to bring ‘peace on earth, good will to men.’
"So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view.
At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.
And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”" (2 Corinthians 5:16-20, NLT)
_____________
Coming to Jesus, my Savior I found
Wonderful peace, wonderful peace;
Storms in their fury may rage all around
I have peace, sweet peace.
Gone is the battle that once raged within
Wonderful peace, wonderful peace;
Jesus has saved me and cleansed me from sin
I have peace, sweet peace.
Peace, peace, wonderful peace
Peace, peace, glorious peace;
Since my Redeemer has ransomed my soul
I have peace, sweet peace.
Wonderful Peace
Lillenas, Haldor
The Copyright Company
© 1923. Renewed 1950 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Those who own a religion may be angry and hate, but those who know the true message of Christ will be people of reconciliation. The Bible says "I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him." (1 John 2:8-11, NIV)
Is loving peace an easy assignment? Not at all. We love our own way. We are quickly offended by those who resist us or who challenge our views. We naturally rise to protect our advantages. If we think that we own Christ, all of the above will happen. We will argue and strike back at those that diminish Him. But, if Christ owns us, we will ‘turn the other cheek’ knowing that He will care for us as a shepherd cares for the flock. In Advent, we remember that He came to save us, that He bought us to be His people. Oh that we would learn to rest securely in that fact!
Has the Light of Jesus shined into your life? Are you owned by Him, held close, safely secure and at rest?
Then, you can live as He taught. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, NIV)
Disciple, if you find yourself fighting, in constant conflict, take a deeper look at what is disquieting your mind and heart. Settle the inner turmoil by inviting the Prince of Peace to speak to the storms that are raging inside of you. When you are at peace, you will live in peace. I know whereof I speak! When I take control of my life from my Lord, when I begin to let the stresses of life (and there is stress!) convince me that I need to stamp out every fire and direct every scene, conflict within myself and with others starts to escalate. When I take those things to Him in prayer, waiting patiently for His will to be done, I find “peace that passes human comprehension” that comes from His love.
Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder it and may you find a renewed love for the One who came to bring ‘peace on earth, good will to men.’
"So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view.
At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.
And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”" (2 Corinthians 5:16-20, NLT)
_____________
Coming to Jesus, my Savior I found
Wonderful peace, wonderful peace;
Storms in their fury may rage all around
I have peace, sweet peace.
Gone is the battle that once raged within
Wonderful peace, wonderful peace;
Jesus has saved me and cleansed me from sin
I have peace, sweet peace.
Peace, peace, wonderful peace
Peace, peace, glorious peace;
Since my Redeemer has ransomed my soul
I have peace, sweet peace.
Wonderful Peace
Lillenas, Haldor
The Copyright Company
© 1923. Renewed 1950 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Make your Dad glad
Few memories are sweeter than those of coming home to my four kids and being smothered by their affection! They were little and without guile, so I knew the moment I stepped into the house if they had been ‘good’ or if they were on the outs with their Mom, just by the reception I received. If they met me with joy, it was a sign that all was well. If they were quiet or in their rooms, it usually meant that recent activities awaited correction! We who are children of the Heavenly Father are not much different. If we have lived in faithful obedience, we anticipate worship and prayer. If we have strayed from the path, we approach Him with guarded words; or worse, we avoid His Presence altogether.
Do you want to make your Heavenly Dad glad? Do you want to know His blessings, live in His favor?
Make no mistake, His love is a gift of grace through Christ, our Savior. We cannot- indeed, we must not- ever trust our own goodness to make us right with Him, or think that we will gain a home in Heaven because we have been ‘good enough.’ But, we must not forget that He loves obedient children, not just superficially compliant ones, but those who do His bidding wholeheartedly.
The Lord spoke through Isaiah and made clear His expectation. Take a look. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here am I.’
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." (Isaiah 58:6-10, NIV)
Abba (Jesus’ title for our Father) says, “Don’t be a selfish brat! Stop thinking about yourself and focus on meeting the needs of others, especially those who are in need of help.” And what is the promise? Abba will keep you from dark confusion, will respond to your prayers, will turn night to day! Oh, what a blessed life.
Heading into another Christmas season, we can see self-centeredness everywhere. “Gim’me this, gim’me that” is the ugly side of the holidays. Acts says that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Let’s look for ways to give ourselves away. In place of piling up more things, most of which we won’t use and don’t need, how about giving to those truly in need or to a ministry that works tirelessly for the oppressed?
Here’s a word from the Word that demonstrates the kind of love our Father desires to see in us. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)
A couple of websites that offer some great alternatives to the usual consumer orgy of spending are listed here. Check them out and make your Dad glad!
http://www.worldvision.org/
http://www.ijm.org/
________________
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross.
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life -
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Townend, Stuart
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Do you want to make your Heavenly Dad glad? Do you want to know His blessings, live in His favor?
Make no mistake, His love is a gift of grace through Christ, our Savior. We cannot- indeed, we must not- ever trust our own goodness to make us right with Him, or think that we will gain a home in Heaven because we have been ‘good enough.’ But, we must not forget that He loves obedient children, not just superficially compliant ones, but those who do His bidding wholeheartedly.
The Lord spoke through Isaiah and made clear His expectation. Take a look. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here am I.’
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." (Isaiah 58:6-10, NIV)
Abba (Jesus’ title for our Father) says, “Don’t be a selfish brat! Stop thinking about yourself and focus on meeting the needs of others, especially those who are in need of help.” And what is the promise? Abba will keep you from dark confusion, will respond to your prayers, will turn night to day! Oh, what a blessed life.
Heading into another Christmas season, we can see self-centeredness everywhere. “Gim’me this, gim’me that” is the ugly side of the holidays. Acts says that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Let’s look for ways to give ourselves away. In place of piling up more things, most of which we won’t use and don’t need, how about giving to those truly in need or to a ministry that works tirelessly for the oppressed?
Here’s a word from the Word that demonstrates the kind of love our Father desires to see in us. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)
A couple of websites that offer some great alternatives to the usual consumer orgy of spending are listed here. Check them out and make your Dad glad!
http://www.worldvision.org/
http://www.ijm.org/
________________
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross.
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life -
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Townend, Stuart
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
It’s a Festival of Light
Among the Christmas traditions I appreciate most are the lights! I don’t go for the colored ones, too gaudy for me. I think that the clear white ones are the only way to go. I shopped for some to put on the small shrubbery in front of our house (No, my display is not award winning, more of a nod to convention!) and was surprised at the variety now available including some that use LED technology to save energy. Imagine that. Christmas lights that are ‘green.’ I digress! I love the symbolism of the lights. As the long darkness of winter settles over us, we protest by putting up the lights that make our homes bright. In so doing, we remember the One who came to a world dark with evil to be the Light.
Few things change the atmosphere around us more than light, though we seldom think of it. When a morning dawns with brilliant sunshine, we are hopeful of a better day. A room can be made so much more inviting just by changing the way it’s lit. You have heard of ‘mood lighting,’ right? The harsh glare of fluorescent light may be great for a workshop, but not so much for our dining room. Jesus changes our lives by bringing Light, understanding and meaning, to us. Of the Incarnation, the Word says, "What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out." (John 1:4-5, The Message) And… He commissions us to take up the challenge of shining His light into the world. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NIV)
Disciple, are you living in the Light?
Are you presenting yourself to Him prayerfully, expectantly, and letting His Light shine into your life; or are you living the shadows of disobedient sinfulness?
The glorious Truth is that when we open ourselves to Him, to the truth of His Word, the Light streams into our lives and dispels the darkness. Darkness is a void, the absence of light. To rid ourselves of the ugliness and hopelessness of sin is a futile task. But, when Jesus Christ enters our lives, He does in us, what we cannot do for ourselves.
I hope that the Christmas lights strung around your home, along the streets, and in the stores will cause you to rejoice. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 60:1-2, NIV)
Here’s a prayer from the Word. In these opening days of Advent, make it your prayer.
"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (Psalm 43:3-5, NIV)
_________________________
I wandered so aimless,
Life filled with sin.
I wouldn't let my dear Savior in.
Then Jesus came
Like a stranger in the night.
Praise the Lord! I saw the light!
I was a fool
To wander and stray;
Straight is the gate
And narrow the way.
Now I have traded
The wrong for the right;
Praise the Lord! I saw the light!
I saw the light,
I saw the light.
No more in darkness,
No more in night!
Now I'm so happy,
No sorrow in sight.
Praise the Lord!
I saw the light!
I Saw The Light
Williams, Hank
© 1948. Renewed 1975 Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. / Hiriam Music, Inc. Unaffiliated Catalog (UC)
CCLI License No. 810055
Few things change the atmosphere around us more than light, though we seldom think of it. When a morning dawns with brilliant sunshine, we are hopeful of a better day. A room can be made so much more inviting just by changing the way it’s lit. You have heard of ‘mood lighting,’ right? The harsh glare of fluorescent light may be great for a workshop, but not so much for our dining room. Jesus changes our lives by bringing Light, understanding and meaning, to us. Of the Incarnation, the Word says, "What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out." (John 1:4-5, The Message) And… He commissions us to take up the challenge of shining His light into the world. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NIV)
Disciple, are you living in the Light?
Are you presenting yourself to Him prayerfully, expectantly, and letting His Light shine into your life; or are you living the shadows of disobedient sinfulness?
The glorious Truth is that when we open ourselves to Him, to the truth of His Word, the Light streams into our lives and dispels the darkness. Darkness is a void, the absence of light. To rid ourselves of the ugliness and hopelessness of sin is a futile task. But, when Jesus Christ enters our lives, He does in us, what we cannot do for ourselves.
I hope that the Christmas lights strung around your home, along the streets, and in the stores will cause you to rejoice. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 60:1-2, NIV)
Here’s a prayer from the Word. In these opening days of Advent, make it your prayer.
"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (Psalm 43:3-5, NIV)
_________________________
I wandered so aimless,
Life filled with sin.
I wouldn't let my dear Savior in.
Then Jesus came
Like a stranger in the night.
Praise the Lord! I saw the light!
I was a fool
To wander and stray;
Straight is the gate
And narrow the way.
Now I have traded
The wrong for the right;
Praise the Lord! I saw the light!
I saw the light,
I saw the light.
No more in darkness,
No more in night!
Now I'm so happy,
No sorrow in sight.
Praise the Lord!
I saw the light!
I Saw The Light
Williams, Hank
© 1948. Renewed 1975 Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. / Hiriam Music, Inc. Unaffiliated Catalog (UC)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Good vibes for me, Jesus!
Christians expect to have an experience of the Presence of the Holy Spirit. This is both good and right for the Lord is an active Person in our lives. Yet, there is real danger in defining our discipleship around ‘spiritual experience.’ Seeking an experience can set us up for manipulation by unscrupulous leaders who play on our emotions. If some subjective experience defines faith, we may well despair of real transformation when we fail to feel the right mix of emotions.
When I was a teen-age Christian, full of earnest desire to become a true follower of Christ, I attended meetings that offered me an experience. At the end of a stirring talk, we gathered “around the altar” at the front of the church where loud prayers and songs opened our hearts. A particularly effective means of touching our hearts was the ‘testimony,’ the personal story of someone whose exciting experience of God’s power was held up for us to emulate. The weakness of the system was demonstrated by the fact that 99% of us who made genuine commitments during those moments of ‘spiritual experience,’ found our resolve to live holy lives waning before the dawning of the next day! It’s not that ‘altar’ experience was useless. It was incomplete. We needed to be taught and encouraged in the spiritual disciplines - things such as regular worship, generous giving of time and resources, study, service, living in community, meditation, and contemplative prayer – that allowed God’s Spirit to make us into true saints on Monday morning at school and work whose actions matched our altar aspirations. It wasn’t nearly as exciting to faithfully commit to discipline as it was to stand with friends in the holy huddle in the highly charged atmosphere of the ‘altar service.’
Many who would follow Jesus as adults are, in fact, chasing a ‘spiritual experience.’ They want Jesus to give them good vibes in their soul, but they don’t want to practice the disciplines that are absolutely required of those who would become mature, productive, and fruitful disciples. The Bible is clear that an emotion based Christianity will make us "infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." (Ephesians 4:14, NIV)
Paul expressed the kind of rock solid faith that will keep us when spiritually dry times overtake us, when experience fails us. He said, "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, NIV) He did not trust his fickle feelings, nor did he chase good vibrations! His hope rested fully in Christ Jesus.
I pray that you will commit to faithful disciplines that open your mind and heart to the transforming work of the Spirit. Build your hope of eternal life, yes, and a rich and full life here, not on some spiritual experience, but on the Truth of Christ Jesus.
____________
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found!
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
The Solid Rock
Mote, Edward / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain
Monday, November 29, 2010
How to Get a Better Pastor
Sometimes I feel a little like the Wizard of Oz, a man who lives behind a curtain of misperceptions. One little girl saw me in the grocery store and said, “Mommy, God left the church.” That’s not good! Yet, even many adults do not really understand the reality of the daily life of ministers. Many perceive that pastors enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. In fact, a pastor is always a pastor wherever he goes. It’s not a job, it’s a way of life.
He (Could well be a ‘she’ too, but I’m writing from my point of view.) awakens in the middle of the night with people’s hurts on his mind, and lifts them to God in prayer. He must negotiate rapid shifts from emotional highs to lows; visiting a nursery and a funeral home on the same day, congratulating someone’s achievement and sharing another grief on the same Sunday morning. Pastors provide the equivalent of spiritual and emotional Emergency Room care for their congregants. He must remain a student of Scripture and his world throughout his lifetime so that when he stands before the congregation to preach he is able to provide spiritual nourishment that connects with the people of God. And, he must deliver a message every Sunday - regardless of his personal state of mind or circumstances. And, he loves every minute of this life to which God has called him!
Yet, he is susceptible to becoming ineffective for many and various reasons.
So, how can you help to make your Pastor's better in his work?
1. Pray for him, everyday. - Spiritual leaders are front-line targets in the battle with evil, as they encourage people to stand with God. If a pastor falls, there is devastating fall-out suffered in many lives. Some even lose faith. Others conclude that Christianity is a fraud. Many lose their trust in pastors because they think all preachers are like the one whose sin was exposed. And even where there is no moral compromise, pastors know the attack of the Enemy through discouragement. So, pray for your Pastor – not for an easy life, but rather that God will keep and protect him, that he will be disciplined and courageous, and that he will finish the race well.
2. Readily accept his ministry with the spiritual gifts God has given to him. - Pastors are not equally adept at all kinds of ministry service. You bless your pastor if you appreciate and encourage him in his unique strengths. Understand that God has equipped him to minister in a way that will not be exactly like the ministry of your favorite preacher or that father-figure pastor who introduced you to Christ. He knows the gaps in his skills and gifts better than you do, but it will be a waste of his strengths if he is constantly pressed to 'fix' his perceived deficits rather than being encouraged in what he does best in God's service.
3. If you must criticize him, and no pastor is above correction or criticism, do it honestly, directly, and person to person. - Every pastor deals with “Mr. They Say” in his church. This mystery man whom few know, but everyone quotes, is ubiquitous! A good pastor will never respond to anonymous criticism because he has no context for it. Still, he wonders, "Does it mean that a majority feels this way, or is this just the opinion of the same two people who are never satisfied with anything I attempt?"
If you have an issue with your pastor, be mature about it. Don't play games, hinting at the difficulty. Know what you really want and be courageous to state it. If you think he's missed the mark, tell him first; not after you have told a dozen of your best friends. If he's wise, he'll listen and evaluate. He may have an explanation for the decision with which you disagree or he may have a higher priority than making you happy due to his principles, convictions, or demands of leadership of Christ’s church.
Many people get angry with the pastor and fail to understand that they are actually angry at God! If you’re mad at the Lord and admit it, your pastor can help you with your doubt or confusion but it will be doubly difficult for you both, if you're misdirecting your anger at him.
4. Don't idolize or idealize him. - Pastors are disciples of Christ, who are human. They are raising kids who don't always do what they're taught, just like you. Their marriage hit rough spots, just like yours. They have real emotions and fight temptation - just like you. Yes, you should expect him to live what he teaches, but not flawlessly because, like you, he’s a sinner who is working out the implications of God’s grace each day. If you make him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, thinking he's more or better than he is really is, you set yourself up for disappointment. You may then mistakenly transfer your disappointment to Christ which would be doubly tragic. When you put a minister on a pedestal, remember that you make his ability to serve you faithfully all the more difficult. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed from your life, but as he is allowed to demonstrate, in ordinary circumstances, a living faith in a loving Lord.
Here’s a word from the Word. "Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.... Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?" (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message)
"Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him." (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)
(Some of these thoughts are original, some borrowed from authors and speakers I’ve long forgotten.)
______________________
He (Could well be a ‘she’ too, but I’m writing from my point of view.) awakens in the middle of the night with people’s hurts on his mind, and lifts them to God in prayer. He must negotiate rapid shifts from emotional highs to lows; visiting a nursery and a funeral home on the same day, congratulating someone’s achievement and sharing another grief on the same Sunday morning. Pastors provide the equivalent of spiritual and emotional Emergency Room care for their congregants. He must remain a student of Scripture and his world throughout his lifetime so that when he stands before the congregation to preach he is able to provide spiritual nourishment that connects with the people of God. And, he must deliver a message every Sunday - regardless of his personal state of mind or circumstances. And, he loves every minute of this life to which God has called him!
Yet, he is susceptible to becoming ineffective for many and various reasons.
So, how can you help to make your Pastor's better in his work?
1. Pray for him, everyday. - Spiritual leaders are front-line targets in the battle with evil, as they encourage people to stand with God. If a pastor falls, there is devastating fall-out suffered in many lives. Some even lose faith. Others conclude that Christianity is a fraud. Many lose their trust in pastors because they think all preachers are like the one whose sin was exposed. And even where there is no moral compromise, pastors know the attack of the Enemy through discouragement. So, pray for your Pastor – not for an easy life, but rather that God will keep and protect him, that he will be disciplined and courageous, and that he will finish the race well.
2. Readily accept his ministry with the spiritual gifts God has given to him. - Pastors are not equally adept at all kinds of ministry service. You bless your pastor if you appreciate and encourage him in his unique strengths. Understand that God has equipped him to minister in a way that will not be exactly like the ministry of your favorite preacher or that father-figure pastor who introduced you to Christ. He knows the gaps in his skills and gifts better than you do, but it will be a waste of his strengths if he is constantly pressed to 'fix' his perceived deficits rather than being encouraged in what he does best in God's service.
3. If you must criticize him, and no pastor is above correction or criticism, do it honestly, directly, and person to person. - Every pastor deals with “Mr. They Say” in his church. This mystery man whom few know, but everyone quotes, is ubiquitous! A good pastor will never respond to anonymous criticism because he has no context for it. Still, he wonders, "Does it mean that a majority feels this way, or is this just the opinion of the same two people who are never satisfied with anything I attempt?"
If you have an issue with your pastor, be mature about it. Don't play games, hinting at the difficulty. Know what you really want and be courageous to state it. If you think he's missed the mark, tell him first; not after you have told a dozen of your best friends. If he's wise, he'll listen and evaluate. He may have an explanation for the decision with which you disagree or he may have a higher priority than making you happy due to his principles, convictions, or demands of leadership of Christ’s church.
Many people get angry with the pastor and fail to understand that they are actually angry at God! If you’re mad at the Lord and admit it, your pastor can help you with your doubt or confusion but it will be doubly difficult for you both, if you're misdirecting your anger at him.
4. Don't idolize or idealize him. - Pastors are disciples of Christ, who are human. They are raising kids who don't always do what they're taught, just like you. Their marriage hit rough spots, just like yours. They have real emotions and fight temptation - just like you. Yes, you should expect him to live what he teaches, but not flawlessly because, like you, he’s a sinner who is working out the implications of God’s grace each day. If you make him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, thinking he's more or better than he is really is, you set yourself up for disappointment. You may then mistakenly transfer your disappointment to Christ which would be doubly tragic. When you put a minister on a pedestal, remember that you make his ability to serve you faithfully all the more difficult. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed from your life, but as he is allowed to demonstrate, in ordinary circumstances, a living faith in a loving Lord.
Here’s a word from the Word. "Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.... Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?" (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message)
"Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him." (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)
(Some of these thoughts are original, some borrowed from authors and speakers I’ve long forgotten.)
______________________
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Dangerous Blessings
My life has been filled with good things - a rich spiritual heritage, food, health care, shelter, and creature comforts more than I need, a wonderful wife, and great children. I get to go to work everyday in a profession I love. I know peace with God and, because of His grace, I am assured of eternal life in the Presence of Jesus. What more could a person desire? Sad to say - Plenty! Contentment eludes me too often.
How easily we are convinced that the good things that bless us are a reward for our goodness, that we have earned them, and even that we deserve more! Even McDonald's played to our sense of entitlement with a wildly successful advertising campaign built on the slogan - "You deserve a break today!"
It is easy to begin to believe that God owes us more and when He does not give us what we want, we start to complain, often bitterly. Ancient Israel is an example for the modern Church. After their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, God provided for their every need. Most amazingly, every morning they went out of their tents and found manna on the ground, angel food that the Lord gave them to sustain them in the wilderness. Did they appreciate it? For a few weeks, then they started to feel entitled to more. The Bible says, "The riff-raff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, "Why can't we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt-and got it free!-to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna." (Numbers 11:4-6, The Message) Time and again, when God gave them something, they tired of it and wanted more.
Have you failed the gratitude test, believing that you deserve more?
Here are some suggestions for recovery of thankfulness as a way of life.
First, practice the discipline of giving, generously and sacrificially!
I am convinced that tithing (giving 10% of our earnings) is a God- directed discipline that opens our lives to greater blessings. We need to go beyond giving as a emotional response to sad stories, or because we feel pressure from a preacher. Never buy into the 'seed faith' nonsense which is self-centered, a 'give to get' scheme that prosperity teachers use to manipulate us. Disciples give of resources – time, money, love - purposefully, like an investor uses his money. We please God when we invest ourselves in worthy ministries, well run charities, and individual people that we can help onto their feet. Sacrificial giving helps us to grasp that what we have is not because we are more deserving than someone else, but because we are God-blessed.
Second, worship deeply, regularly, and from the heart!
True worship restores proper perspective. Taking a significant amount of time each day and on a special day each week to give adoration to God keeps us focused on eternal matters! Worship teaches us to listen more intently to His instructions. Worship is not about ME, but about Him; not about getting anything, but giving everything.
Third, we need to express our gratitude!
Cultivating a habit of thankfulness helps us to avoid a 'me centered' life. We keep in sight the ways that God has blessed us. We realize how much those around contribute to our well-being. Thanksgiving should not be just a day on the calendar for Christ’s followers. It should be a way of life.
Here's a word from the Word. It is an excerpt from the 'song of Moses,' which he recited for the people of Israel when he was advanced in age and near the end of his time of service. In this passage he warns them of the danger of blessings. He warned that as they ‘grew fat’ they would be tempted to forget the true Source of their blessings. I pray that these ancient words of warning will find a place in our hearts and minds today, so that we will give glory to God.
"For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession. He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as his most precious possession. Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them in and carried them aloft on his pinions.
The Lord alone guided them; they lived without any foreign gods. He made them ride over the highlands; he let them feast on the crops of the fields. He nourished them with honey from the cliffs, with olive oil from the hard rock. He fed them curds from the herd and milk from the flock, together with the fat of lambs and goats. He gave them choice rams and goats from Bashan, together with the choicest wheat. You drank the finest wine, made from the juice of grapes.
But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation." -(Deuteronomy 32:9-15, NLT)
Happy Thanksgiving!
As God blesses you, I pray it will make you rich in good deeds, full of gratefulness, and a reason for others to say – “What a God he serves; a good, loving, and wonderful Lord.”
_______________
Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!
Thanks To God For My Redeemer
Storm, August Ludvig / Hultman, John A.
© Public Domain
How easily we are convinced that the good things that bless us are a reward for our goodness, that we have earned them, and even that we deserve more! Even McDonald's played to our sense of entitlement with a wildly successful advertising campaign built on the slogan - "You deserve a break today!"
It is easy to begin to believe that God owes us more and when He does not give us what we want, we start to complain, often bitterly. Ancient Israel is an example for the modern Church. After their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, God provided for their every need. Most amazingly, every morning they went out of their tents and found manna on the ground, angel food that the Lord gave them to sustain them in the wilderness. Did they appreciate it? For a few weeks, then they started to feel entitled to more. The Bible says, "The riff-raff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, "Why can't we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt-and got it free!-to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna." (Numbers 11:4-6, The Message) Time and again, when God gave them something, they tired of it and wanted more.
Have you failed the gratitude test, believing that you deserve more?
Here are some suggestions for recovery of thankfulness as a way of life.
First, practice the discipline of giving, generously and sacrificially!
I am convinced that tithing (giving 10% of our earnings) is a God- directed discipline that opens our lives to greater blessings. We need to go beyond giving as a emotional response to sad stories, or because we feel pressure from a preacher. Never buy into the 'seed faith' nonsense which is self-centered, a 'give to get' scheme that prosperity teachers use to manipulate us. Disciples give of resources – time, money, love - purposefully, like an investor uses his money. We please God when we invest ourselves in worthy ministries, well run charities, and individual people that we can help onto their feet. Sacrificial giving helps us to grasp that what we have is not because we are more deserving than someone else, but because we are God-blessed.
Second, worship deeply, regularly, and from the heart!
True worship restores proper perspective. Taking a significant amount of time each day and on a special day each week to give adoration to God keeps us focused on eternal matters! Worship teaches us to listen more intently to His instructions. Worship is not about ME, but about Him; not about getting anything, but giving everything.
Third, we need to express our gratitude!
Cultivating a habit of thankfulness helps us to avoid a 'me centered' life. We keep in sight the ways that God has blessed us. We realize how much those around contribute to our well-being. Thanksgiving should not be just a day on the calendar for Christ’s followers. It should be a way of life.
Here's a word from the Word. It is an excerpt from the 'song of Moses,' which he recited for the people of Israel when he was advanced in age and near the end of his time of service. In this passage he warns them of the danger of blessings. He warned that as they ‘grew fat’ they would be tempted to forget the true Source of their blessings. I pray that these ancient words of warning will find a place in our hearts and minds today, so that we will give glory to God.
"For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession. He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as his most precious possession. Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them in and carried them aloft on his pinions.
The Lord alone guided them; they lived without any foreign gods. He made them ride over the highlands; he let them feast on the crops of the fields. He nourished them with honey from the cliffs, with olive oil from the hard rock. He fed them curds from the herd and milk from the flock, together with the fat of lambs and goats. He gave them choice rams and goats from Bashan, together with the choicest wheat. You drank the finest wine, made from the juice of grapes.
But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation." -(Deuteronomy 32:9-15, NLT)
Happy Thanksgiving!
As God blesses you, I pray it will make you rich in good deeds, full of gratefulness, and a reason for others to say – “What a God he serves; a good, loving, and wonderful Lord.”
_______________
Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!
Thanks To God For My Redeemer
Storm, August Ludvig / Hultman, John A.
© Public Domain
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
I deserve better
One of America’s great struggles over the next five years will be with government’s so-called ‘entitlement’ programs. With spending out of control and mountains of debt threatening to break our national economy, courageous politicians will have to make hard choices about raising the age of when a person can take a Social Security pension, about spending on education and health care, and about how much we will support various special interest groups. There will be much hand-wringing and screaming!
Entitlement is not just a government thing, either. I do not like to admit it, but there are moments when I allow myself to feel entitled! Thoughts form around this idea - “I’m a good guy. They owe me.” Isn’t that ugly? It sure is. When I fall into that dark hole, the results are not good, with depression and anger soon to follow. Why? Because, in that moment, life becomes a very small bundle of ME. Gratitude becomes impossible.
Entitlement is really ugly when it enters our relationship with God. When we begin to love Self so much that we allow ourselves to say or think, “He owes me,” things have gone seriously awry. He is God, I am not. I owe Him my life and love, for "who has given Him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen." (Romans 11:35-37, NLT) Cultivating a true attitude of gratitude lays a foundation for faith and worship. Consistently offering thanks to God, not in a perfunctory way, but from the heart, breaks the mesmerizing hold of Self. This births a new humility in which we willingly trust and obey the Lord.
From the opening pages of Scripture, disobedience was fed by the root of ‘me-ism,’ the insistence that Self must be served above all things - the welfare of others and even God Himself.
Perhaps you are in a hard place; struggling to make it in our tough economy, dealing with disappointment in a broken relationship, or facing a crisis in your body’s health. It might be that as you see things right now, life is not fair. Choose to thank God for His goodness anyway. Tear down the throne of Self, and invite Christ to be Lord of your life, even your very attitudes. The Bible calls this a "sacrifice of praise to God,” and urges us to offer this sacrifice “continually, ... the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15, KJV)
God will not bless those who think of themselves as entitled! But, to the humble, who are full of gratitude, He shows abundant mercies.
_________________
Give thanks
With a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say,
"I am strong."
Let the poor say,
"I am rich"
Because of what
The Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say,
"I am strong."
Let the poor say,
"I am rich"
Because of what
The Lord has done for us.
Give thanks.
Give Thanks
Smith, Henry
© 1978 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Entitlement is not just a government thing, either. I do not like to admit it, but there are moments when I allow myself to feel entitled! Thoughts form around this idea - “I’m a good guy. They owe me.” Isn’t that ugly? It sure is. When I fall into that dark hole, the results are not good, with depression and anger soon to follow. Why? Because, in that moment, life becomes a very small bundle of ME. Gratitude becomes impossible.
Entitlement is really ugly when it enters our relationship with God. When we begin to love Self so much that we allow ourselves to say or think, “He owes me,” things have gone seriously awry. He is God, I am not. I owe Him my life and love, for "who has given Him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen." (Romans 11:35-37, NLT) Cultivating a true attitude of gratitude lays a foundation for faith and worship. Consistently offering thanks to God, not in a perfunctory way, but from the heart, breaks the mesmerizing hold of Self. This births a new humility in which we willingly trust and obey the Lord.
From the opening pages of Scripture, disobedience was fed by the root of ‘me-ism,’ the insistence that Self must be served above all things - the welfare of others and even God Himself.
- Eve sinned because she wanted to indulge her desire.
- Moses sinned when he allowed himself to be fed up with serving the ever-demanding Israelites.
- David sinned when he thought he just had to have Bathsheba, and his lust fed an escalating series of sins that led to proxy murder!
- God, through the prophets, sharply rebuked those who fed Self by oppressing the poor and the weak. "Here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, You’re never going to move into the luxury homes you have built ... You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they’re down. Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath. " (Amos 5:11-13, The Message)
Perhaps you are in a hard place; struggling to make it in our tough economy, dealing with disappointment in a broken relationship, or facing a crisis in your body’s health. It might be that as you see things right now, life is not fair. Choose to thank God for His goodness anyway. Tear down the throne of Self, and invite Christ to be Lord of your life, even your very attitudes. The Bible calls this a "sacrifice of praise to God,” and urges us to offer this sacrifice “continually, ... the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15, KJV)
God will not bless those who think of themselves as entitled! But, to the humble, who are full of gratitude, He shows abundant mercies.
_________________
Give thanks
With a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say,
"I am strong."
Let the poor say,
"I am rich"
Because of what
The Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say,
"I am strong."
Let the poor say,
"I am rich"
Because of what
The Lord has done for us.
Give thanks.
Give Thanks
Smith, Henry
© 1978 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, November 22, 2010
Not quite dead . . .
Last week, headlines of reports implied that “marriage is dying in America.” Well, not quite. Despite the best efforts to convince us otherwise, most Americans still believe in the institution as a man and woman and the they hold onto the ideal of life-long commitment. Many things around the house have changed. In just 50 years, women have reached a place of making nearly as much money as men, and are surpassing men in gaining formal education. This has led to redefined roles within households. Men are much more likely to take a more active role in child care and household chores. Still, 2/3rds of Americans say that the number one qualification for male marriage readiness is ‘being able to provide for his family.’
Marriage has come under severe attack in recent decades. Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, observes “even the most casual observer or critic of marriage would acknowledge that the institution is too often held in very low cultural esteem. From television to movies to music, the bonds of matrimony are often lampooned as chains that bind and confine as opposed to the great anchor of stability God intended them to be.” (Christianity Today, Nov. 2010) As a pastor, I find that many times even Christians adopt this line of thinking. They allow the dysfunctional relationships that they see causing so much pain to define their perception of marriage instead of extolling the joys that a long-term, stable, loving marriage brings. The Bible tells that we should "Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery." (Hebrews 13:4, NLT)
Before He brought government into being, before there were social organizations, God made man and woman to be one. The family is His plan. Marriage is a laboratory in which the Lord brings us to maturity in character and spiritual development. If we unwilling to do the work of loving our spouse wholly and without reserve, we will not love our God well, either. If we are self-serving, petty, or incapable of reaching for real intimacy (more than sex!) with our spouse; we will almost assuredly be deficient in our love of the Lord, too. "It’s the person who loves brother and sister (We can add, spouse, here, can’t we?) who dwells in God’s light." (1 John 2:10-11, The Message)
The American family is experiencing terrific stress at the present. Changing roles and expectations, cultural ideals about personal happiness, lives that separate partners for days at a time, and less support from extended family are but a few of those stressors. A misunderstanding of the purpose and meaning of marriage causes many to choose their partner unwisely, as well. Sexual attractiveness is a poor substitute for emotional and spiritual compatibility. But, since marriage is of God’s design, we can pray for the Spirit to help us to stand up to these stresses wisely. We make even need to make radical decisions about the ways we live in order to preserve our homes.
Disciple, are you married?
Are you tending your marriage, serving and loving your partner in a way that honors the Lord?
Are you working to grow stronger together adapting to the new demands of each season of life?
Not only does a strong marriage bring joy and health to the husband and wife who share in it, it also blesses and strengthens the world of which they are part.
Here’s the word from the Word. Though it is familiar, invite the Holy Spirit to make it soul food for you today.
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." (Ephesians 5:21-33, NLT)
Marriage has come under severe attack in recent decades. Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, observes “even the most casual observer or critic of marriage would acknowledge that the institution is too often held in very low cultural esteem. From television to movies to music, the bonds of matrimony are often lampooned as chains that bind and confine as opposed to the great anchor of stability God intended them to be.” (Christianity Today, Nov. 2010) As a pastor, I find that many times even Christians adopt this line of thinking. They allow the dysfunctional relationships that they see causing so much pain to define their perception of marriage instead of extolling the joys that a long-term, stable, loving marriage brings. The Bible tells that we should "Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery." (Hebrews 13:4, NLT)
Before He brought government into being, before there were social organizations, God made man and woman to be one. The family is His plan. Marriage is a laboratory in which the Lord brings us to maturity in character and spiritual development. If we unwilling to do the work of loving our spouse wholly and without reserve, we will not love our God well, either. If we are self-serving, petty, or incapable of reaching for real intimacy (more than sex!) with our spouse; we will almost assuredly be deficient in our love of the Lord, too. "It’s the person who loves brother and sister (We can add, spouse, here, can’t we?) who dwells in God’s light." (1 John 2:10-11, The Message)
The American family is experiencing terrific stress at the present. Changing roles and expectations, cultural ideals about personal happiness, lives that separate partners for days at a time, and less support from extended family are but a few of those stressors. A misunderstanding of the purpose and meaning of marriage causes many to choose their partner unwisely, as well. Sexual attractiveness is a poor substitute for emotional and spiritual compatibility. But, since marriage is of God’s design, we can pray for the Spirit to help us to stand up to these stresses wisely. We make even need to make radical decisions about the ways we live in order to preserve our homes.
Disciple, are you married?
Are you tending your marriage, serving and loving your partner in a way that honors the Lord?
Are you working to grow stronger together adapting to the new demands of each season of life?
Not only does a strong marriage bring joy and health to the husband and wife who share in it, it also blesses and strengthens the world of which they are part.
Here’s the word from the Word. Though it is familiar, invite the Holy Spirit to make it soul food for you today.
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." (Ephesians 5:21-33, NLT)
Friday, November 19, 2010
Does God care about what I eat?
“Would Jesus eat cheese doodles and lime jello at the church potluck dinner?” was the question posed by Leslie Fields in a provocative article in Christianity Today magazine, November, 2010. (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/november/9.22.html)
It was enough to get my attention. Initially, I was ready to dismiss her as another tree-hugging, nut-eating goof who is completely out of touch with the real world, but her thoughts made a lot of sense! While we don’t worship our food, nor do we think that we can somehow become more acceptable to God by keeping dietary laws, how and what we eat is connected to our stewardship of the earth and our bodies. Both of those issues are of real concern to the Lord as a part of our discipleship!
Many Christians are very sensitive about using alcohol and tobacco, as we should be, yet they think eating a ton of sugary, fatty foods is of no consequence to the Lord. If the true issue is maintaining our bodies as ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’ then eating ourselves to death ought to concern us as much as drink or smokes. Then yesterday, my assistant pastor sent along a article with the title – Pastor, you’re probably fat. 6 things to do about it. (http://theresurgence.com/2010/04/16/pastor-youre-probably-fat-6-things-to-do-about-it)
After reading that, I realized that the Lord was trying to get my attention. (Did I tell you that I am one of His slower children?) Isn’t it amazing that we can be so blind in certain areas of our lives?
As Fields points out with clarity, Christians must not fall into the ‘food as righteousness’ cult that has become the obsession of many Americans. She writes, “We have become mindful and puritanical about food, and mindless and licentious about sex.” In another insight, she says, “Perhaps in no other time has our culture so widely absorbed the largely Eastern concept that physical, mental, and spiritual purity can be derived from food—and that we earn our virtue through vigilance over fork and plate … this approach can lead to myopic self-absorption and legalism.”
Paul’s instructions need to be taken more seriously by those who be Christ’s disciples. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. … So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:26, 31, NIV) We eat the way we do, in part, because our schedules are so over-full that we grab fast food on the run, allowing little time to prepare or consume healthful foods and to enjoy the relationships that are built by humans over shared bread! Ask my adult children about their best memories, about the altar at which they received holy instruction. They won’t talk about church. They will tell you about our family table and dinner time.
Might we start to recover spiritual health by weaning ourselves from the quick, easy to eat, empty diets that also rob us of time to appreciate all that the Lord has given us? Jesus never wanted us to fall into the trap of thinking we could make ourselves acceptable to God by what we eat. The kingdom of heaven is not a matter of eating and drinking. Yet, like so many parts of our lives, the Lordship of Christ will extend to our consumption habits, both to what we eat, how we eat it, and how much we eat.
Now, what are we going to do about it?
It was enough to get my attention. Initially, I was ready to dismiss her as another tree-hugging, nut-eating goof who is completely out of touch with the real world, but her thoughts made a lot of sense! While we don’t worship our food, nor do we think that we can somehow become more acceptable to God by keeping dietary laws, how and what we eat is connected to our stewardship of the earth and our bodies. Both of those issues are of real concern to the Lord as a part of our discipleship!
Many Christians are very sensitive about using alcohol and tobacco, as we should be, yet they think eating a ton of sugary, fatty foods is of no consequence to the Lord. If the true issue is maintaining our bodies as ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’ then eating ourselves to death ought to concern us as much as drink or smokes. Then yesterday, my assistant pastor sent along a article with the title – Pastor, you’re probably fat. 6 things to do about it. (http://theresurgence.com/2010/04/16/pastor-youre-probably-fat-6-things-to-do-about-it)
After reading that, I realized that the Lord was trying to get my attention. (Did I tell you that I am one of His slower children?) Isn’t it amazing that we can be so blind in certain areas of our lives?
As Fields points out with clarity, Christians must not fall into the ‘food as righteousness’ cult that has become the obsession of many Americans. She writes, “We have become mindful and puritanical about food, and mindless and licentious about sex.” In another insight, she says, “Perhaps in no other time has our culture so widely absorbed the largely Eastern concept that physical, mental, and spiritual purity can be derived from food—and that we earn our virtue through vigilance over fork and plate … this approach can lead to myopic self-absorption and legalism.”
Paul’s instructions need to be taken more seriously by those who be Christ’s disciples. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. … So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:26, 31, NIV) We eat the way we do, in part, because our schedules are so over-full that we grab fast food on the run, allowing little time to prepare or consume healthful foods and to enjoy the relationships that are built by humans over shared bread! Ask my adult children about their best memories, about the altar at which they received holy instruction. They won’t talk about church. They will tell you about our family table and dinner time.
Might we start to recover spiritual health by weaning ourselves from the quick, easy to eat, empty diets that also rob us of time to appreciate all that the Lord has given us? Jesus never wanted us to fall into the trap of thinking we could make ourselves acceptable to God by what we eat. The kingdom of heaven is not a matter of eating and drinking. Yet, like so many parts of our lives, the Lordship of Christ will extend to our consumption habits, both to what we eat, how we eat it, and how much we eat.
Now, what are we going to do about it?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Taken off the farm
Self-anointed, self appointed prophets are annoying and bring disgrace on the name of Christ Jesus. Remember the crank in Florida a couple of months ago whose cockeyed scheme to burn the Quran caused such a tempest? It’s since been reported that this wasn’t his first publicity stunt. Seems that he enjoys the spotlight a little too much. Amos, the prophet to Israel, whose sermons form a small book of the Bible, got under the skin of the priest in Bethel. Amaziah told him to shut up and go home. “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!” (Amos 7:12-13, NLT) Amaziah concluded that Amos was a nobody, from nowhere, who had appointed himself a gadfly in Israel.
But, the humble prophet offers this defense for his messages that stabbed the conscience of that nation.
“I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’" (Amos 7:14-15, NIV) The Lord took me off the farm! Amos had not chosen the job, nor was it a family thing. The Spirit of the Lord seized him and sent him to a job he would rather have left to another – bringing a word of warning of God’s impending judgment to Israel.
If you’re a genuine Christian, you have been called off the farm and sent with a message! “Who me?” you ask? “But I’m just a project manager, a teacher, a mom, a sales representative …. ! How could I possibly have anything to say to anyone about God’s work?” When God calls us, He equips us with abilities that come from the Spirit. It is a mistaken notion that only the pastors can represent Jesus Christ before the world. In fact, you have a unique audience that no preacher will ever get in his church. Disciple, your life is a sermon. What does it say about the Lord to those among whom you work and live?
The Spirit of God lives in you if you belong to Christ. He will use you if you’re willing, if you’re devoted. The key is not to become a grandstanding publicity hound, a person who enjoys attracting attention. When we do that, the issue becomes us, not God’s Word! Jesus calls us ‘salt and light,’ our lives serving as a preservative in a corrupt society, with a radiance that shows others the Way to go in a very dark world! Find that calling daunting? Me, too! Here’s the promise. This word from the Word is lengthy, but take the time to read it, believe it, and thank God for the privilege of being called off of the farm and into His world.
"He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17, NLT)
"We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NLT)
_________________
Father, thank you for calling me off of the farm.
Though I may feel unqualified by human standards
to do holy work, You have promised to equip me
with the powerful gifts of Your Holy Spirit.
I humbly present myself for holy work.
Eclipse my personality with Your radiance.
Clean me up, washing away my sins,
and make my life a quiet and convincing sermon,
an illustration of God’s grace that is offered
to those who are hungry for Him.
Fill me, Lord, with holy boldness that lets me
live fearlessly, relentlessly pursuing Your purpose.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.
But, the humble prophet offers this defense for his messages that stabbed the conscience of that nation.
“I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’" (Amos 7:14-15, NIV) The Lord took me off the farm! Amos had not chosen the job, nor was it a family thing. The Spirit of the Lord seized him and sent him to a job he would rather have left to another – bringing a word of warning of God’s impending judgment to Israel.
If you’re a genuine Christian, you have been called off the farm and sent with a message! “Who me?” you ask? “But I’m just a project manager, a teacher, a mom, a sales representative …. ! How could I possibly have anything to say to anyone about God’s work?” When God calls us, He equips us with abilities that come from the Spirit. It is a mistaken notion that only the pastors can represent Jesus Christ before the world. In fact, you have a unique audience that no preacher will ever get in his church. Disciple, your life is a sermon. What does it say about the Lord to those among whom you work and live?
The Spirit of God lives in you if you belong to Christ. He will use you if you’re willing, if you’re devoted. The key is not to become a grandstanding publicity hound, a person who enjoys attracting attention. When we do that, the issue becomes us, not God’s Word! Jesus calls us ‘salt and light,’ our lives serving as a preservative in a corrupt society, with a radiance that shows others the Way to go in a very dark world! Find that calling daunting? Me, too! Here’s the promise. This word from the Word is lengthy, but take the time to read it, believe it, and thank God for the privilege of being called off of the farm and into His world.
"He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17, NLT)
"We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NLT)
_________________
Father, thank you for calling me off of the farm.
Though I may feel unqualified by human standards
to do holy work, You have promised to equip me
with the powerful gifts of Your Holy Spirit.
I humbly present myself for holy work.
Eclipse my personality with Your radiance.
Clean me up, washing away my sins,
and make my life a quiet and convincing sermon,
an illustration of God’s grace that is offered
to those who are hungry for Him.
Fill me, Lord, with holy boldness that lets me
live fearlessly, relentlessly pursuing Your purpose.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Knock me off my feet!
My life is devoted to serving the Lord. His wisdom guides my life but I would be lying if I told you that He appears to me every day to chat about life. Do I know Him? Yes; yet He is not my Buddy and there is much about Him I cannot understand, even as what I know of Him gives me great comfort. Have you ever had to deal with a Christian who talks of God in overly familiar terms? “God told me to buy this car. God told me to wear this shirt.” Makes you wonder if your spirituality is deficient, doesn’t it? Could God tell them such things? Of course He could. Did He? Maybe He did, maybe they just had a feeling! We can sense the personal leading of the Holy Spirit, but we should be cautious about declaring that “God told me,” because our perception of His voice is sometimes flawed, especially when we go beyond what He has revealed in the Scripture as His will.
Reverence demands great humility from us when we lay claim to hearing God’s voice. Speaking for Him orclaiming His authority for what we say is so serious that the Decalogue addresses the issue: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7, NIV)
I am very skeptical of the veracity of claims many make to have ‘met God’ if they show no radical transformation of heart and/or character. In the Bible we learn that people who met the Lord, face to face, were left permanently changed by the encounter. Often they were literally knocked off their feet! Saul, later called Paul, met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He was knocked down and was left speechless and blind for days! God’s glory was so intense that Moses was not allowed to gaze directly on Him, seeing only His ‘back parts.’ (Exodus 33:23) No passage describes the awesomeness of a Divine Encounter better than this one from Isaiah. "Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:2-5, NIV) His vision did not cause his to run out with happy chatter! He was shaken to the core of his being by a new sense of his sinfulness, which was only remedied by a gracious cleansing offered by the Lord.
Disciple, my prayer is “Lord, knock me off my feet!” I do not think I am praying that because I am looking for a thrill or for an experience to talk about to impress my friends. I desire a holy encounter that restores my perspective of Who He is, that causes me to serve Him faithfully and with fewer questions. I do not desire to tame Him, but I want to be transformed by the weight of His Majesty. Yes, true intimacy with God, our Father, will humble us and make us holy. False intimacy will only deepen self-deception.
Have you grown too familiar with the Lord of Glory?
Are you prone to speak as though He is your Buddy, not thinking much of the awesomeness of His Name? It is true that Jesus Christ is our Friend, that the Incarnate God showed us that He is approachable and loving. Yet, we must never forget that He is God, and we are not.
Here’s the word from the Word.
"I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NLT)
"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)" (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NLT)
__________
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God, Almighty!
All thy works
Shall praise Thy Name
In earth and sky and sea.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Merciful and Mighty.
God in three Persons,
Blessed Trinity!
- Dykes and Heber, Public Domain
Reverence demands great humility from us when we lay claim to hearing God’s voice. Speaking for Him orclaiming His authority for what we say is so serious that the Decalogue addresses the issue: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7, NIV)
I am very skeptical of the veracity of claims many make to have ‘met God’ if they show no radical transformation of heart and/or character. In the Bible we learn that people who met the Lord, face to face, were left permanently changed by the encounter. Often they were literally knocked off their feet! Saul, later called Paul, met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He was knocked down and was left speechless and blind for days! God’s glory was so intense that Moses was not allowed to gaze directly on Him, seeing only His ‘back parts.’ (Exodus 33:23) No passage describes the awesomeness of a Divine Encounter better than this one from Isaiah. "Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:2-5, NIV) His vision did not cause his to run out with happy chatter! He was shaken to the core of his being by a new sense of his sinfulness, which was only remedied by a gracious cleansing offered by the Lord.
Disciple, my prayer is “Lord, knock me off my feet!” I do not think I am praying that because I am looking for a thrill or for an experience to talk about to impress my friends. I desire a holy encounter that restores my perspective of Who He is, that causes me to serve Him faithfully and with fewer questions. I do not desire to tame Him, but I want to be transformed by the weight of His Majesty. Yes, true intimacy with God, our Father, will humble us and make us holy. False intimacy will only deepen self-deception.
Have you grown too familiar with the Lord of Glory?
Are you prone to speak as though He is your Buddy, not thinking much of the awesomeness of His Name? It is true that Jesus Christ is our Friend, that the Incarnate God showed us that He is approachable and loving. Yet, we must never forget that He is God, and we are not.
Here’s the word from the Word.
"I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NLT)
"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)" (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NLT)
__________
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God, Almighty!
All thy works
Shall praise Thy Name
In earth and sky and sea.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Merciful and Mighty.
God in three Persons,
Blessed Trinity!
- Dykes and Heber, Public Domain
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Too much, too soon?
China, home to a fifth of the earth’s human population, is an economic powerhouse. While it still is not even close to the USA in gross domestic product, it is coming on strong and fast! In a news report last night, the discipline of the people was noted as remarkable. Employees work long hours at high levels of production without complaint. Parents sacrifice hugely to help their children get an education. Hunger and want is a first-hand experience that fuels the drive to succeed. I believe that one of the reasons America is quickly slipping to second-rate status is that most have too much, too soon. Most of us have never experienced the kind of desperation that creates a ‘never again’ kind of mentality that makes us hard-working, productive, and thrifty citizens.
Let’s turn our thoughts to things spiritual.
Disciple, do we know a desperate hunger for the things of God, or have we created a little heaven right here on earth that keeps us satisfied?
Are we content to amuse ourselves with trinkets and games instead of pressing in with earnest desire to know the Lord of Glory?
Have we so tamed our faith that it is but a weekend diversion, a momentary pause in our Self serving ways?
The Scripture says "…it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands." (Lamentations 3:26-28, NLT) Before you nod in agreement, think about that. Who really wants to wait for anything? Who chooses to submit without complaining about the violation of his rights? Are we taught by our pastors to ask the Lord for His discipline? Do we teach those who we lead to Christ to willingly surrender their expectations of an easy road in this life?
Our right standing with God is a gift, given by Christ to all those who call on His Name. A holy life emerges from a disciplined pursuit of the Lord, from our choices of priorities that make Him first, above all things. Jesus challenges those of us who have had a life where we gain too much, too soon. He asks us to think again about how we are spending our days. "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:35-36, NIV)
Today, I am asking myself, “Jerry, what do you really want from your life? What are your best efforts being expended to gain: the kingdom of God or the success of this world?” I pray that I have not taken too much, too soon. I pray that I will know the true hunger that turns my heart to the One who satisfies the best and deepest longings.
________________
All my lifelong I had panted,
For a draught from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
Poor I was and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy;
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.
Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings;
Thro' His blood I now am saved.
Satisfied
Williams, Clara Teare / Hudson, Ralph E.
© Public Domain
Let’s turn our thoughts to things spiritual.
Disciple, do we know a desperate hunger for the things of God, or have we created a little heaven right here on earth that keeps us satisfied?
Are we content to amuse ourselves with trinkets and games instead of pressing in with earnest desire to know the Lord of Glory?
Have we so tamed our faith that it is but a weekend diversion, a momentary pause in our Self serving ways?
The Scripture says "…it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands." (Lamentations 3:26-28, NLT) Before you nod in agreement, think about that. Who really wants to wait for anything? Who chooses to submit without complaining about the violation of his rights? Are we taught by our pastors to ask the Lord for His discipline? Do we teach those who we lead to Christ to willingly surrender their expectations of an easy road in this life?
Our right standing with God is a gift, given by Christ to all those who call on His Name. A holy life emerges from a disciplined pursuit of the Lord, from our choices of priorities that make Him first, above all things. Jesus challenges those of us who have had a life where we gain too much, too soon. He asks us to think again about how we are spending our days. "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:35-36, NIV)
Today, I am asking myself, “Jerry, what do you really want from your life? What are your best efforts being expended to gain: the kingdom of God or the success of this world?” I pray that I have not taken too much, too soon. I pray that I will know the true hunger that turns my heart to the One who satisfies the best and deepest longings.
________________
All my lifelong I had panted,
For a draught from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
Poor I was and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy;
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.
Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings;
Thro' His blood I now am saved.
Satisfied
Williams, Clara Teare / Hudson, Ralph E.
© Public Domain
Monday, November 15, 2010
In love with a feeling?
Are you emotional? We all are. Some of us are more prone to display our emotions than others, but emotions are present in every man, woman, and child. God made us with the ability to know joy, to be able to feel afraid, to become anxious or to settle into a state of serenity. A person who has learned how to ‘deal with his emotions’ is richer for them. If feelings are put in charge that person is in at great risk. Where emotions rule, you find a person who is unstable and unproductive; yes, childish. We expect a toddler to plummet from giddy heights of laughter to stormy tumult of tears within 5 minutes. That same emotional roller coaster in an adult is cause for concern! At the opposite extreme, the person who represses emotions, who refuses to experience them, is bereft of true humanity.
Recently, as I prayed, I realized that I was chasing a feeling, that I was trying to find God through a certain state of mind. It became clear to me that I am much more likely to praise Him when I feel peace, when my emotions are running in a specific direction. Sensing the Presence of the Lord through our emotions is clearly a good thing. There are moments when I find myself so full of emotion that it spills over in tears or bursts out in a rolling laugh. But, Jesus taught us to love God more deeply than that. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’" (Mark 12:30, NIV) Our walk with the Lord is a combination of emotion and truth, of passion and discipline, of feeling and fact.
God’s love for us is not at the mercy of our emotions. He does not only love us when we feel all warm and fuzzy inside when they sing our favorite worship song in church! He is not just present when tears spill over in a particularly touching time of prayer. He is equally God on the bad days as He is in the good ones. He is still Lord when exhaustion steals our passion. He is Lord when anxiety about the future produces a temporary soul paralysis. Disciple, don’t fall in love with a feeling. Choose to love the Truth! If we build our salvation on a special state of mind, on emotional well-being, we are resting on a foundation of sand. Yes, we will find ourselves then chasing a feeling, looking for a religious high, running here and there wanting somebody to renew the excitement.
Zephaniah reminds the people of the Lord to trust the Truth! "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV) Jeremiah, a man who knew God through much suffering, urges us to be steady. "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV) Do you see the focus of that faith? It is not on the person, on finding a state of mind, even on doing something to provoke a response from the Lord. That person who would stay consistent in devotion focuses on God’s faithfulness!
______________________
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible
Hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious,
The Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting
And silent as light;
Nor wanting, nor wasting,
Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice, like mountains,
High soaring above;
Thy clouds, which are fountains
Of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest,
To both great and small;
In all, life Thou livest,
The true life of all;
We blossom and flourish
As leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish
But naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory,
Pure Father of light;
Thine angels adore Thee
All veiling their sight.
All praise we would render,
O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor
Of light hideth Thee.
Immortal Invisible
Smith, Walter Chalmers / Robert, John
© Public Domain
Recently, as I prayed, I realized that I was chasing a feeling, that I was trying to find God through a certain state of mind. It became clear to me that I am much more likely to praise Him when I feel peace, when my emotions are running in a specific direction. Sensing the Presence of the Lord through our emotions is clearly a good thing. There are moments when I find myself so full of emotion that it spills over in tears or bursts out in a rolling laugh. But, Jesus taught us to love God more deeply than that. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’" (Mark 12:30, NIV) Our walk with the Lord is a combination of emotion and truth, of passion and discipline, of feeling and fact.
God’s love for us is not at the mercy of our emotions. He does not only love us when we feel all warm and fuzzy inside when they sing our favorite worship song in church! He is not just present when tears spill over in a particularly touching time of prayer. He is equally God on the bad days as He is in the good ones. He is still Lord when exhaustion steals our passion. He is Lord when anxiety about the future produces a temporary soul paralysis. Disciple, don’t fall in love with a feeling. Choose to love the Truth! If we build our salvation on a special state of mind, on emotional well-being, we are resting on a foundation of sand. Yes, we will find ourselves then chasing a feeling, looking for a religious high, running here and there wanting somebody to renew the excitement.
Zephaniah reminds the people of the Lord to trust the Truth! "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV) Jeremiah, a man who knew God through much suffering, urges us to be steady. "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV) Do you see the focus of that faith? It is not on the person, on finding a state of mind, even on doing something to provoke a response from the Lord. That person who would stay consistent in devotion focuses on God’s faithfulness!
______________________
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible
Hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious,
The Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting
And silent as light;
Nor wanting, nor wasting,
Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice, like mountains,
High soaring above;
Thy clouds, which are fountains
Of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest,
To both great and small;
In all, life Thou livest,
The true life of all;
We blossom and flourish
As leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish
But naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory,
Pure Father of light;
Thine angels adore Thee
All veiling their sight.
All praise we would render,
O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor
Of light hideth Thee.
Immortal Invisible
Smith, Walter Chalmers / Robert, John
© Public Domain
Friday, November 12, 2010
Is God going the way of the buggy whip?
When the automobile replaced the horse drawn wagon, the buggy whip became a curiosity. A hundred years ago, anyone who hitched a horse to a cart knew what one was. Now, most people couldn’t even describe one! A growing number of Americans believe they have no more need for God since the faith once explained the mysteries of the world for us has been replaced by science to tell us how the universe works. This is not a new idea. Friedrich Nietzsche, in 1882, wrote about the death of God in Europe, that the belief in the Christian God that had shaped the culture of that continent was dying. The violent spasms that shook the world in the 20th century and the bleak secularism that grips Europe now can be traced to the death of vital faith in a living God. I fear that America is treading the same path, replacing God with Self.
Science may explain the ‘how’ of the world, but our discovery processes cannot explain the ‘why.’ I understand the mechanism of conception that brought me to life, but that tells me nothing about why I am here, or why I even ask the question – ‘Why?’ Is it enough to simply say that we exist? Shakespeare’s Macbeth said, “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Is this the truth about us? If God is dead, then that is truth. Our lives can achieve a sort of frail nobility only by tasting the delights of our senses and preparing the world for the next generation.
An honest inquiry into this world will not lead us to superstition, but it will humble us enough to consider that Someone bigger than us exists. The wonder of the cell, billions of them form our bodies, are stupendous! The beauty of the Universe, vast and as yet unexplained by the most brilliant minds among us, is stunning. To me, it requires greater faith to believe that such amazing things emerged by chance from chaos that it does to accept that there is a Designer of it all. To acknowledge that there is an Intelligence making the universe exist as we know it does not automatically make a person a Christian, of course. But, if one accepts that there is a God, then it would follow that we should want to know Who God is.
And for me, the story unfolded in the Bible reveals Him, Lord of the Universe who further revealed Himself as my Savior in the coming of Jesus Christ. Far from diminishing our lives, this story gives meaning and purpose to us. Like all good things, the Story can be misused to oppress and misunderstood in ways that darken understanding. But, where the Spirit is allowed to make the Story live, humanity is richer.
\God is not dead. He lives. And I, for one, love Him and I am thankful that He has chosen to make Himself known to me.
Here’s a word from the Word. My prayer for my world…
"I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, …
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.
And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."
(Ephesians 1:17-18, 3:14-19, The Message)
____________
“Then sings my soul,
My Father God, to Thee.
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!” Amen.
Science may explain the ‘how’ of the world, but our discovery processes cannot explain the ‘why.’ I understand the mechanism of conception that brought me to life, but that tells me nothing about why I am here, or why I even ask the question – ‘Why?’ Is it enough to simply say that we exist? Shakespeare’s Macbeth said, “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Is this the truth about us? If God is dead, then that is truth. Our lives can achieve a sort of frail nobility only by tasting the delights of our senses and preparing the world for the next generation.
An honest inquiry into this world will not lead us to superstition, but it will humble us enough to consider that Someone bigger than us exists. The wonder of the cell, billions of them form our bodies, are stupendous! The beauty of the Universe, vast and as yet unexplained by the most brilliant minds among us, is stunning. To me, it requires greater faith to believe that such amazing things emerged by chance from chaos that it does to accept that there is a Designer of it all. To acknowledge that there is an Intelligence making the universe exist as we know it does not automatically make a person a Christian, of course. But, if one accepts that there is a God, then it would follow that we should want to know Who God is.
And for me, the story unfolded in the Bible reveals Him, Lord of the Universe who further revealed Himself as my Savior in the coming of Jesus Christ. Far from diminishing our lives, this story gives meaning and purpose to us. Like all good things, the Story can be misused to oppress and misunderstood in ways that darken understanding. But, where the Spirit is allowed to make the Story live, humanity is richer.
\God is not dead. He lives. And I, for one, love Him and I am thankful that He has chosen to make Himself known to me.
Here’s a word from the Word. My prayer for my world…
"I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, …
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.
And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."
(Ephesians 1:17-18, 3:14-19, The Message)
____________
“Then sings my soul,
My Father God, to Thee.
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!” Amen.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Proud and grandiose fool
He introduced himself as the “Rev. Dr.” The way he said it made me know he wanted me to inquire about his degree, so I did. When he told me where he had attended and the degree he held from that institution, I knew he was a fraud. That particular school did not even have a degree program in that field of study! Later I learned that this man had left a pastorate when his fraudulent claims were uncovered. I have never claimed a degree I did not earn, but I find myself acting the part of a proud fool occasionally. I hear words designed to impress coming from my mouth, or present myself as a hero in my own story.
What makes us do such things? That ancient sin called Pride! We all want to be voted ‘most liked,’ or ‘most successful,’ or ‘coolest guy’ don’t we? From the moment we become aware of ourselves as toddlers, we play the ‘look at me’ game, first with Mommy and Daddy, then with friends, and then for the world around us. It’s been said often that ‘we buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.’ Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, makes this wry observation: “I'm not against people having new cars. I'm against them having you. We spend a tremendous amount impressing somebody at the stoplight who we'll never meet. It makes you broke and keeps you broke.”
Pride robs us of ourselves. It makes us frauds, pretenders, wanna-be’s who are incapable of living contentedly right where we are. It sabotages our ability to experience joy today by convincing us that we need to be someone else to really be ‘it’ – whatever we think that may be. The Bible tells me that Jesus was a person not known for His ‘cool’ factor! "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:2-3, NIV) He was born a nobody, came from nowhere, had no degrees. Yet, God lifted Him up. Jesus was "in very nature God, (but, He) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:6-7, NIV) "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name!" (Philippians 2:9, NIV)
Disciple, find joy in being yourself. If God makes you a king, then be a good one. If He makes you a servant, then do it well. Those who are richest in joy are those who know who they are and who have learned to ‘live in their own skin.’ Contentment is a choice we can make, by letting go of pride. It’s not the same as complacency. Many people have given up on life and settled for mediocrity, calling that contentment. We press on to become all that Christ has called us to be, but not to earn applause of those around us. Our focus always must be to please the One who knows us best and loves us most!
Choose humility as your way of life. Humility is not to be confused with being a doormat, nor is it refusing excellence! We are not being humble when we will not accept legitimate affirmation or appreciation. Humility is simply being content to belong to God while being confident in His promise and the strength of the Spirit.
Here’s a word from the Word for those who would turn their back on pride and take up humility.
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:15-17, NLT)
What makes us do such things? That ancient sin called Pride! We all want to be voted ‘most liked,’ or ‘most successful,’ or ‘coolest guy’ don’t we? From the moment we become aware of ourselves as toddlers, we play the ‘look at me’ game, first with Mommy and Daddy, then with friends, and then for the world around us. It’s been said often that ‘we buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.’ Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, makes this wry observation: “I'm not against people having new cars. I'm against them having you. We spend a tremendous amount impressing somebody at the stoplight who we'll never meet. It makes you broke and keeps you broke.”
Pride robs us of ourselves. It makes us frauds, pretenders, wanna-be’s who are incapable of living contentedly right where we are. It sabotages our ability to experience joy today by convincing us that we need to be someone else to really be ‘it’ – whatever we think that may be. The Bible tells me that Jesus was a person not known for His ‘cool’ factor! "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:2-3, NIV) He was born a nobody, came from nowhere, had no degrees. Yet, God lifted Him up. Jesus was "in very nature God, (but, He) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:6-7, NIV) "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name!" (Philippians 2:9, NIV)
Disciple, find joy in being yourself. If God makes you a king, then be a good one. If He makes you a servant, then do it well. Those who are richest in joy are those who know who they are and who have learned to ‘live in their own skin.’ Contentment is a choice we can make, by letting go of pride. It’s not the same as complacency. Many people have given up on life and settled for mediocrity, calling that contentment. We press on to become all that Christ has called us to be, but not to earn applause of those around us. Our focus always must be to please the One who knows us best and loves us most!
Choose humility as your way of life. Humility is not to be confused with being a doormat, nor is it refusing excellence! We are not being humble when we will not accept legitimate affirmation or appreciation. Humility is simply being content to belong to God while being confident in His promise and the strength of the Spirit.
Here’s a word from the Word for those who would turn their back on pride and take up humility.
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:15-17, NLT)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Leaves in the Gutter
The rain gutters on my house were overflowing ... with leaves! The big old oak tree is doing its Fall thing and I think every tenth leaf managed to land in the rain gutter. So, I got out my ladder, cleaned the leaves out of the gutters, and flushed out the downspouts. What's the deal? Why bother cleaning the gutters anyway? They’re just going to get full again. IF I just left the leaves in those gutters, the water would not drain away. Come winter, the standing water would freeze into large blocks of ice extending onto the roof. The winter rain then would not be able to run off and the moisture would work its way under the shingles, eventually rotting the roof boards. A little exertion prevents major damage.
So many things are like that. Regular oil changes can easily be overlooked and the engine won’t stop immediately, but the increased wear of dirty oil will definitely cause a shorter service life. Preventative maintenance is easy to overlook. Given time; there is a price to pay.
The principle holds when it comes to our spiritual health, too. For example, take attendance at church. You can be a Christian without regularly going to church. You won’t be as effective but you can have saving faith, apart from being in your local church. (Amazing statement from a veteran Pastor, eh?) You can read your Bible, pray, trust Christ, and make Sunday a play day: golfing, fishing, and picnicking with family. Short term you won't see much impact on your life. You might even feel some relief about getting rid of the need to be up and out on Sunday AM. A subtle erosion of spiritual health will begin that will not be noticeable for quite some time. Gradually, the edge will go out of your faith. Without teaching that helps you to apply the unchanging Word to an ever-changing world your spiritual understanding will stagnate. From your example, your kids will conclude that church is just one of life’s options, and as young adults, they will all most certainly discard church attendance all together, along with saving faith.
Neglecting to read the Scripture on a daily basis won't cause you to immediately descend into gross immorality.
Failure to engage in generous giving won't make you into Ebenezer Scrooge in a year's time.
Failure to pray won't turn you into an atheist overnight!
But... long term a failure to practice these things will bring on spiritual flab. Your spiritual ears will miss the 'still, small voice of God.' Your spiritual eyes will not perceive His hand at work. Your short prayers will turn into childish whimpers and whines... 'bless me, give me, help me.'
Here is wisdom from the Word.
"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." (Proverbs 6:6-11, NLT)
Clean out the gutters today!
Make an investment in doing the small things. Amazingly- the big stuff will take care of itself!
_______________
My eyes are dry,
my faith is old.
My heart is hard
my prayers are cold.
And I know how
I ought to be,
Alive in You, and
dead to me!
Oh, what can be done
For an old heart like mine?
Soften it up with oil and wine.
The oil is You,
Your Spirit of love;
Please wash me anew
In the wine of Your blood.
My Eyes Are Dry
© 1978 Birdwing Music
Ears To Hear
BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
Keith Green
CCLI License No. 810055
So many things are like that. Regular oil changes can easily be overlooked and the engine won’t stop immediately, but the increased wear of dirty oil will definitely cause a shorter service life. Preventative maintenance is easy to overlook. Given time; there is a price to pay.
The principle holds when it comes to our spiritual health, too. For example, take attendance at church. You can be a Christian without regularly going to church. You won’t be as effective but you can have saving faith, apart from being in your local church. (Amazing statement from a veteran Pastor, eh?) You can read your Bible, pray, trust Christ, and make Sunday a play day: golfing, fishing, and picnicking with family. Short term you won't see much impact on your life. You might even feel some relief about getting rid of the need to be up and out on Sunday AM. A subtle erosion of spiritual health will begin that will not be noticeable for quite some time. Gradually, the edge will go out of your faith. Without teaching that helps you to apply the unchanging Word to an ever-changing world your spiritual understanding will stagnate. From your example, your kids will conclude that church is just one of life’s options, and as young adults, they will all most certainly discard church attendance all together, along with saving faith.
Neglecting to read the Scripture on a daily basis won't cause you to immediately descend into gross immorality.
Failure to engage in generous giving won't make you into Ebenezer Scrooge in a year's time.
Failure to pray won't turn you into an atheist overnight!
But... long term a failure to practice these things will bring on spiritual flab. Your spiritual ears will miss the 'still, small voice of God.' Your spiritual eyes will not perceive His hand at work. Your short prayers will turn into childish whimpers and whines... 'bless me, give me, help me.'
Here is wisdom from the Word.
"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." (Proverbs 6:6-11, NLT)
Clean out the gutters today!
Make an investment in doing the small things. Amazingly- the big stuff will take care of itself!
_______________
My eyes are dry,
my faith is old.
My heart is hard
my prayers are cold.
And I know how
I ought to be,
Alive in You, and
dead to me!
Oh, what can be done
For an old heart like mine?
Soften it up with oil and wine.
The oil is You,
Your Spirit of love;
Please wash me anew
In the wine of Your blood.
My Eyes Are Dry
© 1978 Birdwing Music
Ears To Hear
BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)ü(Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
Keith Green
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Leaning toward the Son
A birch tree that grows in my backyard has a curious curve to it, somewhat like this- ). A large maple tree blocks the sunlight on one side, so the birch has grown toward the sun. It does so because the sun is its source of energy and life. That tree reminds me to face the Son! In the face of Jesus Christ, I find my life, my strength. Do you? Does your life lean towards the Son?
The direction that we face in our attitude has consequence. It’s not ‘just a look.’ If we gaze longingly at the forbidden fruit that promises to satisfy our hunger, we will inevitably drift in the direction of disobedience, into sin. If we cast our glance, again and again, to some past failure, regret will overtake us and bring despair. But, if we build the habit of turning to the Lord in worship, like the birch tree bent towards the sun, our lives will lean towards Him. From Him we will find health – emotional and spiritual. Scripture says "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance (face).” (Psalm 42:11, KJV) Turn to the Lord and let Him put a healthy glow on your face! Another of the holy songs says, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. (face)" (Psalm 89:15, KJV) Worship turns us towards the Lord and there, face to face, we are brightened!
How much ‘facetime’ do you invest with the Lord each day?
Facetime are those moments spent face to face, connecting and communicating. There is a real difference between just being around someone and really seeing them face to face! We do not thrive spiritually just because we have some passing awareness of Jesus’ Presence. We need to make time for facetime with Him, time when we are doing nothing other than worshipping Him, meditating on His Words, listening for the whisper of the Spirit in our soul.
Here’s a word from the Word, full of promise, an amazing statement. "God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NIV) When we turn to let the brilliance of the light of Jesus’ face shine on us, He creates treasure from our daily lives! It’s not our radiance that shines, for we are just ordinary people. It is His reflected glory that makes us someone special.
Are you leaning toward the Son?
_____________
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Lemmel, Helen H.
© Public Domain
The direction that we face in our attitude has consequence. It’s not ‘just a look.’ If we gaze longingly at the forbidden fruit that promises to satisfy our hunger, we will inevitably drift in the direction of disobedience, into sin. If we cast our glance, again and again, to some past failure, regret will overtake us and bring despair. But, if we build the habit of turning to the Lord in worship, like the birch tree bent towards the sun, our lives will lean towards Him. From Him we will find health – emotional and spiritual. Scripture says "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance (face).” (Psalm 42:11, KJV) Turn to the Lord and let Him put a healthy glow on your face! Another of the holy songs says, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. (face)" (Psalm 89:15, KJV) Worship turns us towards the Lord and there, face to face, we are brightened!
How much ‘facetime’ do you invest with the Lord each day?
Facetime are those moments spent face to face, connecting and communicating. There is a real difference between just being around someone and really seeing them face to face! We do not thrive spiritually just because we have some passing awareness of Jesus’ Presence. We need to make time for facetime with Him, time when we are doing nothing other than worshipping Him, meditating on His Words, listening for the whisper of the Spirit in our soul.
Here’s a word from the Word, full of promise, an amazing statement. "God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NIV) When we turn to let the brilliance of the light of Jesus’ face shine on us, He creates treasure from our daily lives! It’s not our radiance that shines, for we are just ordinary people. It is His reflected glory that makes us someone special.
Are you leaning toward the Son?
_____________
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Lemmel, Helen H.
© Public Domain
Monday, November 08, 2010
What do you expect?
An experiment was conducted in which people were put into a stereo-optic device that displayed two distinct images, one in the left eye and one in the right eye. After the images flashed the subject reported seeing what he was culturally conditioned to see. The expectation played heavily into the perception!
Do you realize how much your expectations shape your experience? If you go into any situation today expecting misery, you will find it. If you complain about Monday from the start, you will find the week a long slog to Friday. I do not want to become overly simplistic, falling into a life that refuses reality. There are those who become adept at pretending all is well, working hard to maintain the illusion that life is always good. That only leads to foolishness. There is, however, a decision to meet each and every situation trusting in the Lord’s goodness and ability to provide all that you need. The Psalm teaches us to pray, "Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord. These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there … This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:19-20, 24, NLT)
I do not believe that every experience I have comes from the hand of God! The choices that I make and those of people who live alongside of me in this world make have consequences both intended and unforeseen. But, I am convinced by Scripture that everything that happens to me as His child passes through His hand. He will provide us the grace and strength to stand, if we will trust Him. When dire troubles come my way (and they do) I do not think, “Oh God, did this somehow escape Your notice? Were You surprised by this report?” I know that He knows all things! On those days, I pray, “Father, I am confused, but You are not. Show me the way through, around, over, or under this circumstance which I trust that You will ultimately use to accomplish Your purposes in me and the world in which I live. ‘This is the day that You have made!’ ”
If faith in the loving care of my Father forms my expectation, I will see Him working "for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV) When we trust Him and live that faith in daily obedience, we are spared planting the seeds of many tribulations and enduring the harvest of sorrow. Instead, He leads us through the gates of the righteous that lead to His joyful Presence, which sustains us in every circumstance, sows the seeds of rich reward.
Right now, would you take a moment to reset your expectations?
If you’re having a great day, praise Him for allowing you to enjoy it, for letting you have life and breath to see the sunrise, delight in love, and do His will. If you’re in a tough moment, ask for faith to find His provision that will let you meet the challenge with grace, for eyes that can see the opportunities to do good in the middle of it all.
Here’s a word from the Word. Make it yours.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:4-6, NIV)
________________________
Be still, my soul;
The Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross
Of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God
To order and provide.
In ev'ry change
He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul;
Thy best, Thy heavenly Friend
Thro' thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul;
Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future
As He has the past.
Thy hope, Thy confidence
Let nothing shake;
All now mysterious
Shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul;
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While He dwelt below.
Be Still My Soul
Von Schlegal, Katharina / Borthwick, Jane L. / Sibelius, Jean
© Public Domain
Do you realize how much your expectations shape your experience? If you go into any situation today expecting misery, you will find it. If you complain about Monday from the start, you will find the week a long slog to Friday. I do not want to become overly simplistic, falling into a life that refuses reality. There are those who become adept at pretending all is well, working hard to maintain the illusion that life is always good. That only leads to foolishness. There is, however, a decision to meet each and every situation trusting in the Lord’s goodness and ability to provide all that you need. The Psalm teaches us to pray, "Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord. These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there … This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:19-20, 24, NLT)
I do not believe that every experience I have comes from the hand of God! The choices that I make and those of people who live alongside of me in this world make have consequences both intended and unforeseen. But, I am convinced by Scripture that everything that happens to me as His child passes through His hand. He will provide us the grace and strength to stand, if we will trust Him. When dire troubles come my way (and they do) I do not think, “Oh God, did this somehow escape Your notice? Were You surprised by this report?” I know that He knows all things! On those days, I pray, “Father, I am confused, but You are not. Show me the way through, around, over, or under this circumstance which I trust that You will ultimately use to accomplish Your purposes in me and the world in which I live. ‘This is the day that You have made!’ ”
If faith in the loving care of my Father forms my expectation, I will see Him working "for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV) When we trust Him and live that faith in daily obedience, we are spared planting the seeds of many tribulations and enduring the harvest of sorrow. Instead, He leads us through the gates of the righteous that lead to His joyful Presence, which sustains us in every circumstance, sows the seeds of rich reward.
Right now, would you take a moment to reset your expectations?
If you’re having a great day, praise Him for allowing you to enjoy it, for letting you have life and breath to see the sunrise, delight in love, and do His will. If you’re in a tough moment, ask for faith to find His provision that will let you meet the challenge with grace, for eyes that can see the opportunities to do good in the middle of it all.
Here’s a word from the Word. Make it yours.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:4-6, NIV)
________________________
Be still, my soul;
The Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross
Of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God
To order and provide.
In ev'ry change
He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul;
Thy best, Thy heavenly Friend
Thro' thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul;
Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future
As He has the past.
Thy hope, Thy confidence
Let nothing shake;
All now mysterious
Shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul;
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While He dwelt below.
Be Still My Soul
Von Schlegal, Katharina / Borthwick, Jane L. / Sibelius, Jean
© Public Domain
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